Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;

From realm to realm the notes shall sound,

And heaven’s exulting sons rejoice

To bear the full hosanna round.

2 When, starting from the shades of night,

Obedient, Lord, to thy behest,

The sun arrayed his limbs in light

And earth her virgin beauty drest;

3 Thy praise transported nature sung

In pealing chorus loud and far;

The echoing vault with rapture rung,

And shouted every morning star.

4 When bending from his native sky,

The Lord of life in mercy came,

And laid his bright effulgence by,

To bear on earth a human name;

5 The song, by cherub voices raised,

Rolled through the dark blue depths above,

And Israel’s shepherds heard amazed

The seraph notes of peace and love.

And shall not man the concert join,

For whom this bright creation rose—

For whom the fires of morning shine

And eve’s still lamps, that woo repose?

2 And shall not he the chorus swell,

Whose form the incarnate Godhead wore,

Whose guilt, whose fears, whose triumph tell

How deep the wounds his Saviour bore?

3 Long as yon glittering arch shall bend,

Long as yon orbs in glory roll,

Long as the streams of life descend

To cheer with hope the fainting soul,

4 Thy praise shall fill each grateful voice,

Shall bid the song of rapture sound;

And heaven’s exulting sons rejoice

To bear the full hosanna round.